By Jessica A. Botelho

In her hit song “According To You,” pop sensation Orianthi unleashed a sizzling guitar solo ignited by lyrics she described as “empowering.”

“The words ‘I’m beautiful, incredible,’ are just so uplifting,” said the 25 year-old ax-slinging blonde bombshell who hails from Australia. “If you say that to yourself, you feel good. It’s about having self-esteem and moving on from a bad situation and not being taken for granted. Everyone is always singing along.”

The song is one of 11 tracks on her re-released debut album, Believe (II). Orianthi said she co-wrote some of the songs, including “Highly Strung,” which features guitar great, Steve Vai. In fact, Orianthi’s first big performance was opening for Vai when she was just 14-years-old.

“That was pretty crazy,” she said. “He’s such an incredible guitar player and I was so nervous. I didn’t have a band with me. I had a backing tape and I got up on stage with all these men looking at me like, ‘What are you going to do?’”

Orianthi said she has kept in touch with Vai via e-mail over the years.

“He’s a good friend of mine,” she said. “He’s such an encouraging person and he’s the best guitar player in the world.”

She said some of her other guitar idols include Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, and Eric Clapton. Her father was also a big influence.

“My dad is a guitar player,” Orianthi said. “He had a guitar at home and that’s what made me pick it up. I started playing when I was six.”

At the same age, Orianthi said she knew she was going to have a career in music.

“I just truly believed it was going to happen,” she said. “I always thought if you believed in something enough and you’re doing it for the right reasons it will happen.”

Currently, she is living her childhood dream of musical success, as she is on a national tour with “American Idol” star Adam Lambert.

“It’s been a real blast,” Orianthi said. “I’ve been traveling all around the United States.”

Of all the cities she has recently visited in the U.S., she said she enjoyed Miami, Nashville, and New York City most.

“I’ve been living in LA for about three years now and I think it’s time for a change,” she laughed.

While her career is looking up, she said it hasn’t exactly been easy street.

“Being a female guitar player has been pretty hard,” Orianthi said. “People doubt you and you’ve got to play twice as hard just to get respect. But, I’ve got some great friends in the industry and they always encourage me.”

One friend who supported Orianthi was Michael Jackson. Before the King of Pop’s untimely death, she was set to perform with him on his “This Is It” tour.

“He was such a talented person who just wanted to put on one of the biggest shows on earth,” she said. “He wanted to make the world a better place and bring people together with music. We had been rehearsing together for three months and it was such a sad time for me but I can look back on my memories.”

Despite her heartache, Orianthi said she is grateful to have known Jackson and she is eager to keep playing.

“I want to thank everyone for the support out there,” she said. “I can’t wait to do more shows around the country.”

Orianthi will be taking the stage at The Music Circus Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, MA on Aug. 19th and at The Music Circus South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, MA on Aug. 20th.

Visit her website at www.orianthi.com/splash for details.